A89737:106
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few…
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perilous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begetting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perillous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begeting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.
London: printed by John Macock for Henry Cripps, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Goodness according to some, admits of a three-fold Consideration: Of Nature, which is called perfection. Of Manners, called holiness. Of Beneficence, id est, a disposition to do good to others;1 this is properly called Benignity: Thou art good, and doest good, Psal. 119.68. Goodness is either essential, or by participation. God is essentially good: he is good of himself, he is goodness it self: the creature is good by participation, i. e. by a goodness received of God. The Sun, if compared with other creatures, you may say (in that respect) it hath light of it self, but the Moon and Stars are light by participation: that is, they receive their light from ⟨p. 13⟩the Sun. God is a full Fountain, or rather a Fountain which is fullness it self; willing to communicate, as the Sun sends forth its light, a fountain its streams, and the prolifical virtue in plants, inclineth them to fruitfulness; as the seminal virtue in living creatures, disposeth them to generation: the peculiar affection in parents towards their children, renders them propense to do them good: and the soul full of matter (like wine which hath no vent) propends to pour out it self; so is the Lord affected to do good according as he hath willed concerning the creature.
Goodness according to some, admits of a three-fold Consideration: Of Nature, which is called perfection. Of Manners, called holiness. Of Beneficence, id est, a disposition to do good to others;1 this is properly called Benignity: Thou art good, and doest good, Psal. 119.68. Goodness is either essential, or by participation. God is essentially good: he is good of himself, he is goodness it self: the creature is good by participation, i. e. by a goodness received of God. The Sun, if compared with other creatures, you may say (in that respect) it hath light of it self, but the Moon and Stars are light by participation: that is, they receive their light from ⟨p. 13⟩the Sun. God is a full Fountain, or rather a Fountain which is fulness it self; willing to communicate, as the Sun sends forth its light, a fountain its streams, and the prolifical virtue in plants, inclineth them to fruitfulness; as the seminal virtue in living creatures, disposeth them to generation: the peculiar affection in parents towards their children, renders them propense to do them good: and the soul full of matter (like wine which hath no vent) propends to pour out it self; so is the Lord affected to do good according as he hath willed concerning the creature.